Alex Charilaou and Sasha das Gupta, who co-chair the Burnham-supporting Mainstream movement, said: “Andrea Egan’s win as Unison general secretary is the biggest step forward for the Left in the labour movement for years.
“We look forward to working with Unison and all progressive forces in trade unions to push for the transformative changes working people are crying out for.”
Mainstream said: “This result shows clearly that vast swathes of Labour’s historic coalition feel the Government has fallen out of step with its mainstream.
“By working hand in hand with our partners in the trade union movement, the Labour Party has ushered in huge advances for working people before and it can do so again – but only if the party rediscovers its progressive instincts.
“We look forward to working with Andrea and all those who share our commitment to a more open Labour Party with the energy and ideas to transform the country.”
Neal Lawson, the director of the Compass campaign group, said: “Andrea Egan’s victory couldn’t send a clearer message – people are rapidly losing faith in this Labour leadership and want change.
“This shakes the ground on which the top of the Labour Party stands. They need to end the project of political centralisation and re-establish their truly progressive credentials.”
